Apparatus for receiving and delivering mail.



J. A. CHAMBERS. APPARATUS FOR RECEIVING AND DELIVERING MAIL.

APPLICATION FILED AUG-12.1914.

1,150,340. 7 Patented Aug. 17, 1915.

3 SHEETSSHEET I- enter Attorneys,

COLUMBIA PLANOHRAPH c0., WASHINGTON. nv r .I. A. CHAMBERS.

APPARATUS FOR RECEIVING AND DELIVERING MAIL.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 12, IBM.

1,150,340, Patented Aug. 17, 1915.

j 7 3 SHEETS-SHEET 2- entor,

5 Attorneys.

-OLUMHlA-PLANOGRAPH CO..\\'I\SHINGTDN u c J. A. CHAMBERS.

APPARATUS FOR RECEIVING AND DELIVERING MAIL.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 12. 1914.

1,150,349; Patented Aug. 17, 1915.

J; 3 SHEETS-SHEET 3. J7 J1 J4 Witnesses Inventor,

COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH COWASHINGTON. 0. t.

si {a l.-

.1.... mi 135.. :P e I JOHN A. CHAMBERS, F NEWBURG, MISSOURI.

Arr'Anli rus Eon; nnc'rirvrim ran 3 nniirvriiuiie ivtlirii.

To all whoiitit may cone-cra Be it known that I JO HN A,

a citizen of the United States residing: at

ea ers, n h 911 1 f P ps and Stat staircases Leas-raga. Paiijii t dnfi' Application filed August 12, 191 f se'riai'nassaaoz'.

. T is vn eni s t0 pp us for 1'6.

ceivin'g and delivering mail, .iti beingdeigned o e ie p c l r s fle t nr h terchange of ma l between a mov ng car and t ons ng th re ef her -z Q ne of the objects of the invention "is to provide a novelnieans forejecting bags. or-

other, mail containers, said means being so constructed as to operate easily w thout ,un'

. desirable pounding, or too sudden starting,

qno matter at what speedthe car may be traveling. w

p A further ob ect-1s to provide novel means for shifting the mail receiver. outwardly away from the passing caras soon as the interchange of mail has been effected. a 1

Another object, is to provide a novel form of mail projecting mechanism which can be easily swung to active position outside of a car and shifted backinto the can With the foregoing and other objectsin' view whichwill appear as the description proceeds, theinvention resides in the coinbinatlon and arran eme'ntof arts and in 23 the details of construction hereinafter de; SCllbGCl. and claimed, 1t being understood that changes in the precise embodiment 'ot the invention herein disclosed, can be made within the scope of what; is claimed, without departing frornthe spirit of the invention.

In the accompanyingdrawin-gs the pre-..

ferred form of the invention has bfeen shown.

In, said drawings ,Figure 1 is .a .plan' view of the mechanism constituting the present invention, a portion of a carv being shown in section, the various parts being shown in the positions assumed thereby immediately prior to. effecting, .the interchange of maihthe positions to which the parts aremoved subsequent to theinterchange of mail, being indicated by dotted l1I16S.; Fig.

2 is, a side elevation of aportion of'acar.

having the present improvements combined therewlth, the said mechanlsm being partly in section, the section being on the line A-B Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is'a section on line G-D. Fig. 1. Fig. ieis a section on line E F Fig.-:3.s. Fig. 5 is a plan View of one of the mail holdersand ejectors. Fig. 6 is a ,1'ear elevati'on of one' of the cams and showing. its? controllingsp'ringl Fig. 7 is an enlarged. vertical transverse section through therbasketor. receiven- Fig. 8is a vertical transverse section through certain of the trippingb-ars and showing. one of their sup- Iiorltingbra'ckets...

Referring tothe figuresby'characters of referenceel designates a car structure having a dooropening 2,"and pivoted within this door openingso asto extend from one side to therother thereof is a: basket or receiver .3, the bottomof which is'in theform ofa, grate, as shown'at l, this grate being overhung by a .curved .top 5 preferably ed to beheld in raised; or active position in any suitable. ,manner, it being preferably counterbalancedby. means of awweight 6 provided along thefront thereof. When, however,- an article such as a. mail bag or the likeis :thrown' into, the basket, the

Weight. 6 will be overbalanced and the rear 1 portion of the basket wardly Secured upon the outer side of the car structure; 1 adjacent the front or advancing side .of thedoor opening,uare tripping bars 7 preferably parallel, these bars being provid'ed at their rear ends with substantially horizontal portions 8 close to the opening 2, these horizontal portions merging into parallel upwardly inclined portions 9 which, in turn, merge. into forwardly diverging portions 10. .Thesebars7 can be connected to will swing down- 7 the carstructure in any suitable manner, as by means of yokes 11 outstanding from said structure. v

Secured to the outer side of the car structure 1 adjacent that side of the opening 2 remote from the bars 7 is a bracket 12 havingla seat 13 at its upper end formed by cutting away one side of a socket formed in the end of the bracket. An arcuate brace 1 1 connects the bracket 12 to the car structure 1 and has a supporting arm 15 extending horizontally therefrom toward the openin 2'. I 1 i An L-shaped arm 16 is pivotally connected to the inner side of the car structure close to the door opening 2 and is adapted. to swing into the opening soas to proje ct'out wardly at right angles to the sideof the car or to swing inwardly from said opening so as to be supported entirely within the car. This arm has an extension 17 at its outer end to which is fixedly connected a frame 18 having a shaft 19 journaled therein, said shaft being parallel with the arm 16. The outer end of the shaft has a crank arm 20, and fixedly'connected to the shaft, so as to rotate within the frame 18 is a cam 21. A lever 22 is fulcrumed on the frame 18 and is adapted to swing'in a substantially .horizontal plane, the fulcrum of this lever being arranged in a vertical plane extending through the center of the cam 21 and the two arms of the lever constantly bearing against diametrically opposed portions of the cam21. When the arm 16 is extended outwardly from the door opening 2, one of the arms of lever 22'is extended forwardly or in the direction-in which thecar l is moving andthis forwardly extending arm of lever 22is'fixedly connected to abox 23 open at the front, top and back and having 'uide fian 'es 21 extendin inwardl from b b b its sides. .11 followeri26 is slidably mounted in the box and isheld against displacement "relative. thereto by theflanges 24;

Fixedly connected to 'theinner end portion-"of the arm 16 is a tongue 27 and the end of this tongue, which isloeateddirectly back of the box 23, is connectedby a link 28, to one end of a lazy tongs29. This lazy tongs is extended into the 100x23 and is con- 1 'nected to the follower 26, one of the pivots of the lazy tongs where two of the members thereof cross, being connected to the box 23 by .a pivot 1 0d 30.

A spiral spring 31 issecured at one endto the back face offlthe cam 21 andatits other end to the frame 18, thisspring serving to holdthe cam 21' and the crank arm 20normally in predetermined positions. In

3 V otherlwords, should the'crank arm 20 be "wheels 32'located'under and supporting a box-like receiver 33 which is open at its" front and top. A coiled spring 34 is secured atone end to the bottom of the receiver 33 and at its otherend to a supporting structure 35 on which therails 32- are mounted,

' this spring serving to hold the receiver nor mally'pulled away from the track on which the car 1 travels. A. lever 361s connected to the back portion of the receiver 33 and its lower end is designed to engage a keeper 37 on the structure 35. The upper end of the keeper is detachably engaged by an eye 38 formed at one end of a lever 10 fulcrumed on the receiver 33, said lever, in turn, being engaged by one end of another lever 41. This second lever, which is mounted on the receiver 33 is adapted to be actuated by a crank arm 42 extending from the inner end of a shaft 13 journaled on the receiver 33, said shaft 13, having a depending arm 44 supported in front of the open or receiving:

face ofthe receiver 33.-

- Secured to the receiver '33 adjacent that end of its open face nearest the approaching car 1, are outstanding brackets 45 in the form of yokes supporting parallel bars 46 similar to the bars :7 hereinbefore referred to, these bars 16 being parallel at that end nearest the open face of the" receiver, 33. These parallel portions 4? merge into upwardly inclined portions 48 which, 1n turn,

merge into diverging end portions 19. so porsitioned that, when the receiver 33 is locked in active position, the end of the crank arm 20 extending outwardly from the car will be received between these diverging portions 49, as shown in section in Fig.3. The arm 4 1 extends downwardly across-the barsl'? so as to'be engaged-and shifted by the arm 20 as said arm 20 passes from between the bars so a 16. This actuation of the arm 4&1 will of course rock the-shaft 4L3and' cause the-crank arm "12 to shift lever .41. This will result in the elevation ofthe eye 38 and the-release vof lever 36 from its keeper 37. j Consequently the spring 31 which is'under tension, 'will quickly shift the receiver133 outwardly awayfrom the trackon which the eling.

Mounted on the receiver33 above the open face thereof is a frame 50in which is join- 7 car 1 is travend with a crank arm 52 designed, as a car passes the apparatus, to enter between the naled a shaft 51Which is parallel with the. rails 32 and is providechat its outer or free diverging portions 10 of the-bars 9 on the car. -This shaft51 has a cam 53 fixedly connected to it and fulcrumedwithin the frame V V V i 50 and in front of the cam 531s a leverf constantly'bearing against thecjam at Qs'ubstantially diametrically opposed points. I

'Fixedly connected to each end of the lever '54 with V the cam 53, interposed between them, are box-like holders 55 similar 'to the holders 23 hereinbefcre' described," each of these holders containing a follower 56 to I which is secured one end of alazy tongs 57. V r

' One of the pivots of the lazy tongs is connectedto the box 55, as shown at '58 and theinner endof' the lazy tongs is connected by a link 59 to the fixed portion of the receiver 33. As shown particularly'in Fig. .1

the two boxes 55' converge outwardly.

In order to reduce frictional engagement between the levers 22 and 5% and the re,

passing the holder 55.

spective cams 21 and-53,,anti-frietion rollers" may be provided on these leversfon hear ing againstthe cams.

Assunnngthat an interchange. of mail. is

to be effected at a station, the bagel otherl container with the mail therein-andwhich is to be delivered to the station, is placed in the holder 23 afterthe; follower 26. has been drawn back tojthe inner end portion of the-holder. The arm 16 with all theparts' supported thereby is thenswung outwardly to a position at right angles to. the car 1, thus bringing the end of its extension. 17 into position upon the seat 13, as shown-Vin Fig. 2. The mail to be delivered to. the car is placed in the holder 55 nearest theapproaching car,the follower in said holder being first retracted by adjusting lever 54.

so'as to have said holder inits innermost posltion. The receiver 33 is adjusted toward the track on which the car 1 1S traveling and is secured by placing the lower end of lever 36 in engagement with keeper37 and .by placing the eye 38 in engagement with the upper end of lever 36. lViththeparts thus positioned, car 1,:when passing the station, causes the diverging ends 10 of the bars 9 to receive between them the crank arm Nhile tliiseraiikar n is so positioned, the crank arm 20 carried bythejcar is passing into position between the diverging ends 19 of the bars 16. As crank arm 20 moves into position between the inclined portions 48 of the bars itwill cause a rotation of the shaft 51 and, consequently, the

cam 53 will be rotated against the action of its spring 31 so as thus to swing thelever l and cause the holder 55 which is nearest the approaching car to swing outwardly toward the car just as the door opening 2 is downwardly within the car without danger.

of the mail falling out. of thecar and onto the track. As soon as the crank arm 20 passesbetween the parallel portions 47 of the bars l6, it will strike the arm 4A and release the receiver 33 as hereinbefore de- 7 scribed, so-that sa d receiver will thus be drawn automatically away from the car.

. )lace the crank arm 52 isbein rotated bi H 2: the bars 4 so that the cams 21 actuate lever While the foregoing operation is taking 22 and cause the holder 23 to swing toward the receiver 33 and the follower 26 to shift lon 'itudinall within the holder 23 thus to Y At'the same time the suddenly eject the contents of the holder 23 and cause them to fall into the receiver 33 prior to the release of said receiver after the interchange of mail has been effected. The arm 16 with the parts supported thereby can be swrmg back into the car 1 as shown by dotted lines in Fig. l.

Althoughthe basket 3 has been shown located in the upper portion of the door opening.-2, -it is to be understood that it can be located in the lower portion of the said opening and the other parts of the apparatus can be-readjusted accordingly.

Importance is attached to the fact that the mail is delivered from the track along diagonallines'so that the mail will be discharged in a direction opposite to that in which the train is moving. Consequently the velocity of the train is to an extent overcome and the mail will be accurately delivered.

It-will be noted that by mounting each holder and its follower in the manner shown and described, the said follower will be shifted in the same direction as the holder by the actuation of said mechanism, but at a greater speed than the holder. F or example, when the lever 5i is swung so as to shift the holderv 55 'toward the car, said holder will pull, through the pivot 58, upon .the lazy tongs 57 which are anchored by the links59.

Consequently thelinks of the lazy tongs will constitute speed multiplying means whereby thefollower 56 will be moved longitudinally within the holder 55 toward the outlet end of said holder and in the same direction in which the holder is moved by the lever 54. lVhat is claimed 1s: 1. In an apparatus of the class described,

the combination with a holder, a follower therein, and means for shifting the holder longitudinally, of speed multiplying means operated by the longitudinal movement of theholder for moving the follower positively inthe same direction as the holder but at a greater speed.

2. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination with a holder open at its ends, a support therefor, and means for shifting the holder outwardly relative to the support, of a follower within the holder, and speed multiplying means operated by the outward movement of th holder for shifting the follower positively outwardly ata higher speed than the holder.

3. The combination with a holder, a support therefor, and means for shifting the holder in the direction of its length outwardly relative to the support, of a follower within the holder, a lazy tongs connected to the follower and to the holder, and a con nection between the lazy tongs and the support whereby, during the outward movement of the holder, the follower-is projected outwardly faster than the holder.

4. The combination with a lever, a holder fixedly mounted thereon and-having open ends, a follower within the holder, a supporting structure, and means operated by the movement of the holder relative to the supporting structure for projecting the follower in the same direction with the holder but'at a higher speed, of a revoluble lever actuating element, a crank arm movable therewith, and means for engaging the crank arm to rotate said element to actuate the lever. V I

'5. The combination with a supporting structure, a lever thereon, a holder fixedly connected to the lever and having an open -end, a follower within the holder, and

means operated by the movement of the follower relative to thesupporting structure v for projecting the follower in the'same-direction with said holder but at a higher -.;speed, of revoluble means for shifting the lever, a crank arm movable with said means, and spaced inclined members for receiving the crank arm therebetween to rotate said element.

6. The combination with a cam mounted for rotation, a crank arm movable therewith, and a deflecting element for engagement with the crank arm to rotate the, cam, of a holder having an openend, means operfated by the cam for shifting the holder longitudinally, a follower within the holder, and means operated by the movement of the holder for shifting the follower in the same direction as the holder but at a greater speed.

7. The combination with a cam mounted for rotation, a crank arm movable there- 'with, and a deflecting element for engagement with the crank arm to rotate the cam,

v40' of a holder having an open end, means op erated by the cam for shifting the holder longitudinally, a follower within the holder,

means operated by the movement of the holder for shifting the follower in the same direction as the holder but at a greater l speed, and means for automatically return-.

mg the cam and holder to their initial positions when the crank arm becomes disengaged from the deflecting means.

8. The combination with a receiver movably mounted, and means for holdingthe receiver normally in a predetermined position, of a cam mounted for rotation, a crank arm revoluble therewith, a holder having an open end, means operated'by the cam for shifting the holder in the direction of its length outwardly away from the receiver, a follower within the holder, and means operated by the movement of the holder rela tive to the follower for shifting said fol-' lower in the same direction as the holder but at a greater speed. 1

9. The combination with a receiver movably mounted, and meansfor holding the receiver normally in a predetermined position,"of a'cam mounted for rotation, a crank ,7 arm revoluble therewith, a holder having an,

open end, means operatedby the cam for shifting theholder in the direction of its length outwardly away from the receiver, a follower within the holder, means' operated by the movement of the holder rela V tive to the follower for shifting said follower in the same direction'as the holder but at a greater speed,'and defiectingmeans' in the path of the crank arm arm and the cam. T V

10. The combination with a receiver movably mounted, and means for holding the re ceiver normally in a predetermined posi-' tion, of a cam mounted for rotation, a crank arm revoluble therewith, a holder having an open end, means operated by the cam for for rotating said and holder totheir initial positions when i said arm becomes disengaged from the defleeting means; f I

'11. The combination with a receiver movably mounted, and means for holding the receiver normally in a predetermined position,.of a cam mounted for rotation, a crankarm revoluble therewith, a holder hav ng an open-end, means operated by' the cam for shiftingthe holder in the direction of its length outwardly away from the receiver, a V

follower within. the holder, means operated by the movement of the holder relative to the follower for shifting said follower in the same, direction as the holder but at a greater speed, and spaced'defiecting mem bers in thepath of thecrank arm and adapt- 7 ed to receive said arm therebetween to rotate the arm and cam during the movement of the arm between said deflecting members.

12, The combination with a movably supported receiver, yielding means for holding the said receiver normally, in a predetermined position, and a holding element for securing the receiver against movement under the action of'said means, and means for releasing said element, and a deflecting devlce upon the receiver and extending past the releasing means, of a car supported structure, a holder movably mounted there-" on, a cam, a crank arm revoluble with'the cam and movable successively into engagement with the deflecting device and releasing means thereby to successively rotate'the cam and release the receiver, means operated by the cam for shiftingthe-holder toward the receiver, a follower Within the holder, as my own, I have hereto afiixed my signaand means operated by the movement of the time in the presence of tWo Witnesses. holder relative to the car supported structurefor shifting the follower in the same JOHN CHAMBERS 5 direction as the holder but at a greater Witnesses:

speed. r V l WM. H. RHEA, In testimony that I claim the foregoing I W. C. KERR.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for fi ve cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents,

7 Washington, D. C. 

